Oscillatory electric switch construction



Oct. 22, 1968 w. T. STOI 3,407,278

OSCILLATORY ELECTRIC SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1967 I 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIGJ.

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OSCILLATORY ELECTRIC SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Filed April 17, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 NVENTOR 14 4175? 7. 570/ ATTORNEYS v United States Patent 3,407,278 OSCILLATORY ELECTRIC SWITCH CONSTRUCTION Walter T. Stoi, Warren, Mich., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Essex Wire Corporation, Fort Wayne,

Ind., a corporation of Michigan Filed Apr. 17, 1967, Ser. No. 631,548 7 Claims. (Cl. 200-153) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electric switch having a pair of independent, movable switch blades movable into and out of bridging engagement with fixed contacts in response to oscillatory movement of a pair of operating members the movement of which is effected by an oscillatory actuating member, and in which the actuating member has a lost motion coupling with one of the operating members and the latter has a lost motion coupling with the other operating member whereby the actuating member is capable of limited movement relative to both of the operating members and the operating members are capable of limited movement relative to each other.

The invention disclosed herein relates to an oscillatory electric switch having movable switch elements adapted to make and break electrical circuits in response to oscillation of switch operating members. Switches of the general class to which the invention relates are especially adapted for use as so-called kick-down switches in automotive vehicle transmission systems, but they have other uses as well.

In switches of the kind herein disclosed, it is desirable to provide actuating means for effecting operation of the switch operating members and to provide for play or limited relative movement of the actuating and operating members. It also is desirable to provide for limited relative movement between the operating members themselves. These objectives are achieved in the present construction by the provision of a lost motion coupling between the actuating member and one of the operating members and by the provision of a further lost motion coupling between the operating members themselves, the arrangement being such that movement of the actuating member precedes movement of the one operating member and movement of the one operating member precedes and effects movement of the other operating member.

Other objectives of the invention will be pointed out specifically or will become apparent from the following description when it is considered in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a switch constructed in accordance with the invention and assembled within a casing;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, of the operating parts of the switch and with the casing removed;

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, but illustrating the operating parts in adjusted position;

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 55 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 6--6 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7--7 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the line 88 3,407,278 Patented Oct. 22, 1968 ice of FIGURE 6 and illustrating the operating parts in one extreme position of adjustment;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8, but illustrating the operating parts in slightly adjusted positions from those shown in FIGURE 8; and

FIGURE 10 is a view similar to FIGURE 9, but illustrating the parts in another position of adjustment.

A switch constructed in accordance with the invention comprises a base 1 formed of a rigid, insulating material and-which is secured to a metal, cup-shaped casing 2 by means of a tab 3 and rivets 4. A mounting bracketS may be secured to the casing 2 by rivets 6, and both the casing 2 and the bracket 5 are provided with aligned openings 7 for a purpose presently to be explained.

The support 1 is pierced to accommodate pairs of electrically conductive fixed contacts. In the disclosed embodiment there are two pairs of fixed contacts 8, 9 and 10, 11. Externally of the support 1 the contacts 8, 9 and 11 are connected to terminals 12, 13 and 14, respectively, and the contacts 9 and 11 are bridged by a jumper 14a. On the inner face of the support 1 is a movable switch element 15 of such length as to bridge the contacts 8 and 9, one end of the element 15 being anchored to the contact 9 and the other end being deflectable into and out of engagement with the contact 8. Between its ends, the member 15 is provided with an upstanding shoulder 16.

Parallel to the member 15 and spanning the contacts 10 and 11 is a second conductive element 17, one end of which is anchored to the contact 10 and the other end of which is deflectable into and out of engagement with the contact 11. Between its ends the member 17 also is provided with an upstanding shoulder 18. The conductive elements 15 and 17 are formed of springy or resilient material and have a normal set such that they tend to disengage the respective contacts 8 and 11.

The support 1 is provided with a circular well 19 (see particularly FIGURE 7) which is surrounded by an upstanding, annular flange or boss 20. The flange has a reduced thickness, arcuate portion 21 which terminates at its opposite ends in shoulders 22 and 23.

A pair of operating members 24 and 25 are provided for effecting engagement and disengagement of the respective movable contact elements with the fixed contacts. The operating member 24 comprises an arcuate hub 26 from which depends an arcuate mounting flange 27 (FIGURE 7) that is rockably accommodated within the well 19 so as to mount the member 24 for rocking movements in either of two opposite directions. Integrally joined to the hub 26 is a generally radially extending arm 28 which terminates at its outer end in an arcuate foot or leg 29. Depending from the undersurface of the arm 28 is a short flange 30 (FIGURE 7) which is concentric with the flange 27 and is adapted to engage the shoulder 23 and limit counterclockwise rocking of the arm 28. Depending from the under surface of the leg 29 is a cam 31 (see FIGURE 5) having a rise surface 32 and a dwell surface 33, both of which surfaces are adapted to engage the movable switch blade 15 adjacent the shoulder portion 16. The construction of the cam 31 is such that, when the operating member 24 is rocked from the position shown in FIGURE 3 toward the position shown in FIGURE 4, the cam 31 will engage and deflect the switch element 15 from its normal position to a position in which it bridges the contacts 8 and 9.

The operating member 25 comprises an arcuate hub 34 from which depends an arcuate mounting flange 35 (FIGURE 7) that is accommodated in the well 19 so as rockably to mount the member 25. A flange 30a, similar to the flange 30, is provided to engage the shoulder 22 and limit clockwise rocking of the member 25. The flanges 27 and 35 are formed to the same radius so that their opposite ends confront and lie in the path of rotation of one another. Rotary movement imparted to either one of the operating members, therefore, will cause the arcuate flange of that member to engage the arcuate flange of the other member so as to transmit rotary movement to that other member. Accordingly, the flanges 27 and 35 may be considered driving flanges as well as mounting flanges. As is best shown in FIGURE 7, the combined arcuate length of the flanges 27 and 35 is less than 360, thereby providing a gap or clearance C between the confronting ends of the flanges. The clearance C thus enables limited rotary movement of the members 24 and relative to one another. Thus, the flanges 27 and also constitute a lost motion driving connection between the members 24 and 25.

Resilient means reacts between the operating members 24 and 25 so as yieldably to retain the operating members in a selected position of adjustment and comprises a compression spring 36 (FIGURE 7) that is accommodated in the well 19 and has its opposite ends hearing against the respective flanges 27 and 35. The spring 36 tends to maintain each of the operating members in any position to which it is adjusted. Thus, the member 24 can be rocked counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 3 without effecting corresponding movement of the member 25 until such time as the flange 27 has moved through a distance suflicient to eliminate the gap C.

The operating member 25 includes a generally sectorshaped part 37 which is joined to and extends substantially radially from the hub 34 and lies in substantially the same plane as the arm 28 and the leg 29 of the operating member 24. From the undersurface of the part 37 depends a cam 38 (FIGURE 6) that is adapted to engage the movable contact 17 adjacent the shoulder 18. The arrangement of the cam 38 is such that, when the operating member 25 is rocked from the position shown in FIG- URE 3 toward the position shown in FIGURE 4, the cam 38 will engage and deflect the contact 17 from its normal position to a position in which it bridges the fixed contacts 10 and 11.

Actuating means 40-is provided for elfecting oscillation of the operating members 24 and 25. The actuating means comprises an upstanding shaft 41 which extends through the openings 7 previously referred to so as to enable operation of the actuating means from the exterior of the casing. The inner end of the shaft 41 is bifurcated to form a pair of parallel legs 42 and 43 which are accommodated radially inwardly of the driving flanges 27 and 35 and straddle the spring 36 so as to rotate the latter.

Forming an integral part of the actuating means 40 and projecting substantially radially from the shaft 41 between the ends of the latter is a plate-like member 44 which overlies both of the operating members 24 and 25. Near its outer end the plate 44 has an opening or socket 45 therein in which is accommodated a post or pin 46 that projects upwardly from the arm 28 of the operating member 24. As is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4, the opening 45 is substantially larger in size than the post 46, thereby enabling limited relative rotary movement of the actuating member 40 and the operating member 24. The relative sizes of the pin 46 and the socket 45 are such that, when the shaft 41 is rocked counterclockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 3 or clockwise from the position shown in FIGURE 4, the actuating plate 44 may move a limited distance before it effects movement of the operating member 24. Thus, the socket 45 and the pin 46 constitute a lost motion coupling between the actuating means 40 and the operating member 24.

The foot 29 of the operating arm 28 includes a second upstanding post 47. The post 47 is not engaged by the actuating plate 44 but, instead, is adapted to engage the inner surface of the casing 2 so as to prevent vertical displacement of the operating member 24, and consequently of the members 25 and 40, due to the springiness of the movable contact elements 15 and 17.

In the disclosed embodiment the actuating plate 44 has at its outer end a depending foot 48 which is adapted to engage and deflect the movable contact element 16 into bridging engagement with the contacts 8 and 9 as the actuating means is rocked to the position shown in FIG- URE 3.

When the parts are at the extreme limit positions shown in FIGURE 3, the foot 48 on the actuating plate 44 will be in engagement with the contact element 15 so that the latter bridges the contacts -8 and 9. counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 41 will cause the actuating plate 44 and the foot 48 to move relatively to both of the operat ing members 24 and 25. When the plate 44 has moved through a distance suflicient to effect engagement between the edge of the opening 45 and the post 46, the operating member 24 will be rocked counterclockwise. This movement of the operating member 24 will be relative to the operating member 25 until such time as the member 24 has been rocked through a distance suflicient to cause the clearance C between the driving flanges 27 and 35 to be eliminated, whereupon further counterclockwise rocking of the shaft 41 will cause conjoint counterclockwise movement of the actuating means and both operating members.

As the operating members move counterclockwise, the foot 48 will disengage the contact element 15. Subsequently, the cam 31 on the operating member 24 will deflect the contact element 15 into bridging engagement with the contacts 8 and 9. Thereafter, the cam 38 will deflect the contact element 17 into bridging engagement with the contacts 10 and 11. When the actuating means has reached its extreme limit of counterclockwise movement, both of the elements 15 and 17 will be in bridging engagement with their respective fixed contacts, as is indicated in FIGURE 4. In these positions of the parts, the actuating plate 44 is capable of oscillating first clockwise and then counterclockwise without effecting any change in the positions of the operating members.

Upon clockwise movement of the actuating plate 44 from the position shown in FIGURE 4, the plate 44 will move relatively to the operating members until such time as the pin 46 once again is engaged by the edge of the socket 45, whereupon the operating member 24 will move conjointly with the actuating plate 44, but relatively to the operating member 25 until such time as the clearance C between the driving flanges 27 and 35 once again is taken up. Thereafter, the members 44, 24 and 25 will move conjointly.

As the actuating means 40 continues its clockwise movement from the position shown in FIGURE 4, the cam 38 will release the contact element 17, enabling the latter to be disengaged from the fixed contact 11. Subsequently, the cam 31 will disengage the contact element 15 and enable the latter to disengage the contact 8. As the actuating plate 44 approaches the position shown in FIGURE 3, the foot 48 will engage the element 15 and deflect the latter into engagement with the contact 8.

This disclosure is representative of a presently preferred embodiment of the invention, but is intended to be illustrative rather than definitive thereof. The invention is defined in the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An oscillatory switch construction comprising a support; electrically conductive switch contacts carried by said support for engagement with and disengagement from one another; first and second oscillatory operating members for effecting movement of said contacts into and out of engagement with one another; an oscillatory actuating member; lost motion coupling means connecting said actuating member to one of said operating members for imparting delayed oscillatory movement thereto in response to oscillatory movement of said actuating member; and lost motion driving means between said operating members for imparting delayed oscillation to the other of said operating members in response to oscillation of said one of said operating members.

2. The construction set forth in claim 1 including resilient means acting on said driving means and yieldably maintaining said operating members in a selected position of relative adjustment.

3. The construction set forth in claim 1 wherein said lost motion coupling means comprises a pin and socket construction and wherein said pin is loosely accommodated in said socket.

4. An oscillatory switch construction comprising a support; a pair of engageable and disengageable switch elements carried by said support; a pair of operating members for efiecting engagement and disengagement of the respective switch elements; means mounting said operating members on said support for oscillating movements; engageable driving means on each one of said operating members for imparting rotary movement to the other of said members in response to rotary movement of either one of said members, the construction and arrangement of said driving means being such that said operating members are capable of limited relative rotary movement; an actuating member; means mounting said actuating member on said support for oscillatory movements; and lost motion means coupling said actuating member to one of said operating members for imparting delayed oscillatory movement thereto in response to oscillatory movement of said actuating member.

5. The construction set forth in claim 4 including means reacting between said operating members and yieldably maintaining them in a selected position of relative adjustment.

6. The construction set forth in claim 4 wherein said driving means comprises an arcuate part on each of said operating members, said arcuate parts confronting one another at their opposite ends and having a combined arcuate length of less than 360.

7. The construction set forth in claim 4 wherein said lost motion coupling means comprises a pin on one of said operating members accommodated in a socket in the other of said operating members, said pin being smaller in size than the size of said socket.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,094,690 4/1914 Wood 200153.20 2,753,412 7/1956 Link ZOO-153.20 X 2,964,600 12/ 1960 Blemly et al 200-47 3,045,503 7/ 1962 Kiessling 20047 X 3,248,956 5/1966 Kuhn 200-47 X 3,312,916 4/1967 Hoover 200-47 X F ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. BURKS, Assistant Examiner. 

